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China win Uber Cup

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-18 14:57

JAKARTA - Defending champion China retained Uber Cup Saturday evening, thrashing host Indonesia 3-0 in the final showdown at Bung Karno Sports Hall.

China's Xie Xinfang holds the Uber Cup after China beat Indonesia during the Uber Cup badminton tournament in Jakarta May 17, 2008. [Agencies]

Top-ranked Xie Xingfang took an easy win over Indonesia's first singles Maria Kristin 21-8, 21-15 while China's doubles pair Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen swept past Lilyana Natsir/Vita Marissa 21-15, 19-21, 12-16 in the women's doubles.

China's second singles, Lu Lan crushed Pia Zebadiah of Indonesia 21-12, 21-10 to seal the match 3-0 over Indonesia.

China has lifted the trophy 11 times. Japan is second, has won it five times, followed by Indonesia and United States, each with three Cups.

In a post-match press briefing, China's head coach Li Yongbo said he was happy to see that more and more players' abilities have been improved, especially the Indonesia's women players.

"We should be happy, that the level of badminton is rising all across the world. Indonesia's two singles and doubles pair Lilyana and Vita are very good players," he said.

He said China will continue its winning ways but said it is encouraging that other countries have started to improve and offer stiffer resistance.

Asked if the strong earthquake in China has affected the players psychologically, Lu Lan said they really worried about the earthquake victims.

"We all have donated money to the quake-hit areas and when we go back home, we will do more to help them," she said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's pair Lilyana and Vita said that they did their utmost in the battle against China, "but unfortunately, we lost. We hope to have chance to beat them in the Beijing Olympic Games."

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